EPIDEMIC seems imminent in Cross River State, as water scarcity hits the city of Calabar and environs.
For three weeks now, Calabar and its environs, which used to have steady water supply from water board, has remained without water supply from government quarters.

There are fears that the ugly scenario may lead to epidemic, as members of the public now rely on untreated water from borehole to meet their daily needs.

A resident in Atamunu, Mr. Udo Okon, told The Guardian that the implication of the lack of water from reliable sources might stretch into eternity.

“This is a very bad situation. Imagine we are forced to get water from unclean sources, and this may lead to a serious epidemic.
“Even if the situation is resolved today, only God knows what poison one must consumed along with untreated water,” Okon said.

Another resident in Ikot Ishie, Miss Tina Wovere, however, said that there is a ray of hope that the suffering from the water scourge may end soon. “

This is very bad. But I am happy that as at yesterday, we noticed that water flow through our tap. We hope this will last to end the over three weeks of suffering”.
The General Manager, Operations, of Water Board, Mr James Buchan, attributed the three weeks cut in water supply to a disconnection of the public power supply from PHED, and the high cost of running the water treatment plant with diesel.

But sources close to the Water Board said the problem is deeper than the cut in public power supply, adding the issue of diesel is an excuse. The sources blame the main problem of water scarcity in the city on sabotage and lack of political will power to provide the people with the essential amenity.